-
Fifty-Four Forty or Fight
A slogan by Polk's Democrats, who wanted to annex Oregon country from the British. -
Manifest Destiny
Widely held belief throughout the 19th century that urged settlers to expand across North America. Caused the US to become more expansionist. -
Wilmot Proviso
An unsuccessful proviso suggested by Congressmen David Wilmot to ban slavery in territory acquired in Mexican-American war.Led to Civil War -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty that ended the Mexican-American war. US paid war reparations and Mexico ceded land including California. -
Compromise of 1850
Besides California, all the remaining portions of the Mexican cession were territories that were ruled by popular sovereignty.The people of each territory would decide whether or not slavery would be permitted.Postponed the Civil War -
Fugitive Slave Law
Part of Compromise of 1850 passed by Congress.All escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Drafted by Senator Douglas and passed by Congress,it repealed the Missouri Compromise and stoked national tensions over slavery due to "popular sovereignty". This conflict led to Bleeding Kansas -
Gadsen Purchase
US acquired New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico through the Treaty of Mesilla. Also, got land to build transcontinental railroad on. The draft was finalized by Mexican ambassador James Gadsen. -
Sumner-Brooks Incident
Pro-slavery Sen. Brooks beat abolitionist Sen. Sumner with a walking cane.was in response to an anti-slavery speech Sumner gave earlier. Polarized the issue of slavery further. -
Dred Scott v. Stanford
After Dred Scott appealed that since he went to Miss. territory he was therefore free, the Supreme Court ruled that black people didn't have Constitutional rights and that black people were property. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown tried to organize a slave revolt by taking over a US arsenal in Harper's Ferry.The plan failed as his party was caught by Marines, including Robert E. Lee. Was basically a dress rehearsal for the Civil War. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln and Republicans emerged victorious. Historically analyzed as the catalyst for the Civil War because Lincoln didn't want to expand slavery into territories/West. -
SC secession
South Carolina claimed it was their Constitutional right to secede. Mainly because the North was interfering with slavery and was not allowing the South to bring slavery into the West. Caused the US to become more divided. -
Bleeding Kansas
A small war between Free-staters (abolitionists) and border ruffians(pro-slavery) on the legality of slavery in Kansas.The protest was more about the economic displacement of non-slaveholders than moral reasons. Free-Staters won and Kansas was admitted as a free state. -
Battle of Antiteam
Another battle with heavy losses on both sides; "The bloodiest day in US military history".Viewed as a Union strategic victory because Confederacy retreated first and abandoned their invasion. -
Gettysburg
Largest number of Civil War casualties but also the war's turning point.The Union successfully defeated the Confederate's, halting Gen. Lee's invasion of the North. -
Vicksburg
Another Union victory by Gen. Grant over the Confederates. Also considered a turning point because the Trans-Mississippi dept. was cut off from the rest of the Confederacy, splitting it in to 2. -
13th amendment
Federal government abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the US, except as punishment for a crime. Was a stepping stone towards equal rights; US became a more racially tolerant society. -
Panic of 1873
One of many financial panics from this time period caused by inflation,demonetization of silver, and major property losses. Caused America to remain economically unstable. -
Compromise of 1877
Settled election of 1876; Hayes was elected president if he promised to pull all troops out of the South,ending reconstruction. Blacks lost power and became more disenfranchised and discriminated. US remained a racist,unequal country. This contradicted the picture painted by the 13th amendment and Civil Rights Acts.
